What happens during a personal injury claims process?
At GA Solicitors, we understand that injuries and illnesses can have a profound impact on your life, and the prospect of beginning a personal injury claims process or discussing your situation with a solicitor can be overwhelming.
However, our reputable personal injury solicitors in Plymouth have varied experience and will have dealt with hundreds of cases ranging from minor injuries to serious injuries and fatalities and will fully understand the questions, concerns and needs you may have.
With that in mind, it’s important to understand how the personal injury claim process works and the steps involved from start to finish.
Get legal advice as soon as you are able
You should be aware that many personal injury claims are subject to a limitation period of just three years from the date of the accident, or of the date that you become aware of the injury. It is therefore important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. There are sometimes exceptions to this rule, such as claims involving minors, or very exceptional circumstances – again, advice should be sought as quickly as possible.
Step 1: Your consultation
The first step in the personal injury claims process is to contact our enquiries team. Our friendly, personal injury solicitors in Plymouth will arrange a free and confidential consultation to discuss the details of your case and determine who is at fault for your injury or illness.
We will also explain how the personal injury claims process works, outline what you can expect at each stage, and talk you through the different options available for funding your claim.
We handle a wide range of personal injury claims (but not limited to), including:
- Accidents in the workplace
- Accidents in public spaces
- Catastrophic injuries
- Asbestos and industrial disease
- Motorcycle and road traffic accidents
- Armed forces injury and military hearing loss
- Fatal accidents
Our personal injury team solicitors will also facilitate home and hospital visits during each stage, removing the stress of attending our offices and allowing you to focus on recovery.
Step 2: Investigation
Once we’ve determined that your claim has a reasonable chance of success, we’ll start building your case.
To achieve the best possible outcome of a personal injury claim, we require as much evidence as possible. We’ll guide you through compiling and documenting the evidence needed to fully establish the value of your losses and expenses.
Examples of supporting evidence can include:
- A letter or medical report from your GP or other healthcare professionals
- Names and contact details of witnesses
- Detailed written account of accident or illness
- Photographic and/or physical items relating to the incident
- Records of medical expenses
- Records or documents of correspondence relating to your case
This evidence also supports the investigation to confirm who is at fault for your injury or illness.
Where liability is unclear, we may work with independent experts to determine fault. Once a responsible party is identified, we’ll contact them and confirm whether they accept liability.
When is a personal injury claim not possible?
There are times when you may wish to make a claim, but this is not possible. This could be because there is no proof of negligence, that the incident was 100% your fault, you are past the statute of limitations, or there is not sufficient injury, distress or damages to make a claim viable.
Step 3: Medical assessment
Our personal injury solicitors will liaise directly with medical experts, whose professional opinions and testimony are vital in confirming the extent of your injuries or illness and assessing the potential long-term impact.
Medical experts also determine and calculate the compensation the injured party is entitled to receive. These experts may include doctors, surgeons, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. In addition to confirming the impact of the injuries, they can also estimate the cost of treatment and any other related expenses, such as:
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation programs
- Prescriptions
- In-home care and support
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Prosthetics and mobility aids
- Mental health treatment or counselling
In most circumstances, a medical examination is required. The medical expert will be a specialist relevant to your injury or illness, for example, an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) consultant is required for cases of military hearing loss.
We will arrange the medical examination for you, and for your comfort, you are welcome to bring a family member or friend along.
Step 4: Securing your care and immediate needs
In cases involving serious injuries or illnesses that impact your ability to work, our solicitors may secure ‘interim’ payments. These are advance payments that can help cover essential costs like specialist medical care or lost financial earnings while your claim is ongoing.
Any interim payments you receive during the claim will be deducted from the final compensation settlement.
Our personal injury solicitors also work closely with specialists who can coordinate rehabilitation and provide tailored support to help rebuild your life. In addition, our team can recommend counselling services and other forms of personal assistance, giving you the best chance of recovery.
Step 5: The final compensation settlement
Once all the evidence is gathered, our team of Personal Injury Solicitors will liaise with you to work on and submit your claim, and depending on who is at fault, this may be against an individual, a company or an insurer. Most Personal Injury claims we deal with during negotiations get settled out of court; however, if this doesn’t yield a satisfactory result, we will start court proceedings.
When a claim needs to be decided in court, you may have to attend Court. Our team will be there every step of the way to keep you informed so you feel as comfortable as possible. If your claim is successful and you are offered compensation and wish to accept the offer, then we will send you a mandate form for you to sign confirming this.
However, if a personal injury claim is not successful, we work on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there is no direct cost to you for progressing the claim, as long as the terms of the No Win No Fee agreement have been followed.
It is also worth noting that we can be instructed by clients who are currently being represented by other firms but do not feel they are getting the level of service or representation that they should. In fact, this happens more than you may think. If you have started your personal injury claim but are unhappy with your chosen law firm, then please contact us and see how we can help.
CTA: To start the personal injury claims process and get the compensation you deserve, fill in our online claim form, email enquiries@GAsolicitors.com or call our personal injury solicitors in Plymouth on 01752 203500.
Why Choose GA Solicitors
With decades of experience, GA Solicitors’ personal injury solicitors are highly ranked in both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK. The team only represents victims, and has recovered compensation for thousands of people, totalling millions of pounds. Several team members are also members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, (APIL) and provide support and advice to victims across England and Wales.
You can view some of our recent case studies here.
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